Can't Ask, Don't Need, Won't Acknowledge

Chapter 34: O Tannenbaum

“Come on my little Grinch, Let’s get you a coffee, while the boys get the tree…”

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Wanda sipped slowly at her seasonal latte, as she took in the gaudy decorations in front of her. Peter seemed to be in his element picking out all the bright and garish decorations, and dropping them into the trolley with elvish glee. She hesitated as her eyes got drawn towards silver bird ornament adorned in silver, her hand reached out delicately to touch it. She retracted her hand sharply when a voice interrupted her, “you can have it.”

Natasha smiled at her warmly, as her Wanda’s hand dropped to her side. “I don’t need any of this,” said Wanda sadly.

Natasha wrapped an arm around her shoulder, “you may not need any of this, but it’s ok to want it. We are spending Christmas as a family.”

Wanda snorted, “yeah just your average fugitive family.”

“Ssh you, now put it in the trolley,” explained Natasha.

“But it doesn’t match,” replied Wanda. She gestured towards the rest of the potentially tacky ornaments currently residing in the full trolley.

“It doesn’t need to match Wanda,” said Natasha with warmth.

Wanda looked back at her, “my mother’s tree at home was always silver, she said the other colours were always Tacky. Pietro always used to try and sneak this incredibly awful flashing reindeer decoration on the tree to see if she would notice.”

“Did she?”

Wanda giggled, “Of course, it became a game. She would remove it and hide it somewhere and then Pietro would find it and put it back on. We never spoke about it, the game continued all December.”

Natasha’s smiled at hearing the giggle as Wanda opened up to her, but the mood changed as Wanda focused on the bird ornament again. “Do you think it’s wrong to celebrate and be happy?”

“No,” replied Natasha firmly, “We need to make new traditions together, while still remembering and honouring the past.”

The moment got interrupted by Peter thrusting an animatronic singing reindeer towards them, “Look at this! It sings and dances!”

Natasha quirked an eyebrow at the excited teenager who was trying to replicate the awkward dancing, before finally rolling her eyes, “fine put it in the trolley.”

Peter deposited it in with the rest of the Christmas decorations and rushed off back towards the Christmas lights. Wanda turned bemused to Natasha, “you are going to regret that.”

“Probably,” replied Natasha simply. “but remember I am a trained assassin, I can get rid of it if need be.”

Wanda just laughed out loud and linked arms with Natasha, “come on let’s go find Dad.”

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Steve dragged the tree through the house, and carefully placed it in situ. Peter followed excitedly behind him carrying more bags than what a teenage boy should have been capable of hauling.